Dean (hick) Saunders

God thats massive 
bolton still have posh away to play 
come on derby lets just get it done this weekend 
coyr!!!!

2-2, 20 minutes left 😒

A lot depends how much the Portsmouth game has taken out of Bolton. If Shrewsbury can take a point that would really put Derby in the driving seat.

Cledara Abbey Stadium: KO- 15.00
We’re on a mini-run, aren’t we, but despite having our fate firmly back in our hands, the pressure to perform remains; two wins from our last two and we’re back in the sunlit uplands of the Championship; a loss, or even a draw and potentially the pendulum swings again.
It’ll be interesting to see whether we might see one or two back in full training this week, but it’s hard to view the win against Orient as anything other than one of our most complete performances this season and this despite being far from clinical in front of goal. Will the confidence garnered see us approach the game with the same positive approach? One hopes so! Another slip up when seemingly set to turn the screw and inevitably, PW’s management will be under fire. A win and we head back to Pride Park with only Carlisle standing between us and our first promotion since 2007.
Our Opponents:
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, and took the name Cambridge United in 1951. They played in local amateur leagues before joining the Southern League after finishing as runners-up of the Eastern Counties League in 1957–58. Under Bill Leivers's stewardship they were crowned Southern League Premier Division champions in 1968–69 and 1969–70, which helped to secure their election into the Football League in 1970. 

Recent Form & Key Players:
Off the back off two absolute kickings from Reading, 4-0, then a 6-0 hammering from Lincoln, Cambridge were held 1-1 by Northampton before closing out March with a 2-0 loss away to Bolton. April has seen them draw at home to Charlton and lose by the odd goal to Blackpool, before showing better form in defeating Wigan 3-1 at home.
Top of the scoring charts sits Gassan Ahadme with 11, with Fejiri Okenabirhie next best with 9. Ellis Kachunga is next best having netted 6 times in 34 starts. Sully Kalkai tops the assists list with from Jack Lankester and George Thomas with 4 and 3 assists respectively.
Rams Match Squad:
Hard to get away from the 11 that started against Orient, given the resounding nature of the win and the style in which it was achieved. A buoyant Paul Warne confirmed in the post-match presser that everyone came through unscathed and it was interesting to hear him saying that we had more energy coming off a shorter break than was the case at Wycombe, where he felt we lacked energy, despite the 8 day break.
The injury picture remains murky and it’ll be interesting to see whether Gayle and Bird might be fit enough to make the matchday squad. I’ll not bother with my selected 11, as I always get it horribly wrong and the gaffer seems to be doing a decent job matching squads to opponents without our guidance. Instead, here’s the top of the table as it stands:

Don't forget to keep an eye on @Caerphilly Ram's injury updates thread across the week, for any snippets on player's likely return dates. I'll append anything I see to this htread as best I can in any case.
The Promotion Picture:
Some key fixtures tomorrow night, none more so than Bolton’s home game against Shrewsbury, whom we know to be a strong and obdurate side, though one lacking the Trotter’s class edge. I’d expect Bolton to take the points, but should Shrews grab an early lead, it could make for rather tougher game.
Oxford, fresh off the back of their 5 goal hammering of Posh play hosts to Lincoln City, whose charge towards the play-offs has faltered a little in most recently. It ought to be a tightly contested affair and to be honest, I’d not be surprised by any result.
The aforementioned Posh have what appears to be a routine task against lowly Fleetwood, but what will be the aftermath of their humbling at the hands of Oxford on Saturday. Might they have a hangover?
Perhaps the best tie of the round features champions-elect Portsmouth hosting Barnsley. A point will surely suffice for Pompey, but I expect them to win and win well en route to a thoroughly well-deserved title win. They’ve been excellent this season and this despite being one of the few clubs with comparable injury concerns to our beloved Rams. It'll be good to see them back where they belong after some very difficult years of their own.
Of the weekend ties, the most interesting involve Peterborough, who have a tricky away game at Bristol and Bolton host Port Vale. It seems odds on we will be going into the final week needing to beat Carlisle to be absolutely certain of promotion and I doubt too many Rams fans will be counting their chickens early! 
Final Thoughts:
A brief digression is in order to congratulate Eiran Cashin and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, both of whom made the EFL League 1 Team of the Year. Bit miffed that Curtis Nelson was overlooked to partner Cash at CB, as for me, he’s been top of the pops for us, but I doubt he’ll mind too much if we win come Saturday.
A last word as always to all Derby fans travelling to the game, safe journey to and fro, Rams and Ramettes and hopefully plenty of good stuff to chatter about on your way home. Honestly, I think our away support has been as good as any in the entire EFL this season and they’ll hopefully be rewarded with another complete and controlled performance as we ourselves edge closer to that vital 2nd place finish.
COYR
BE MORE B4
 

Now is not the time to allow your bottom to squeak.
Now is the time to open it up, and let rip.  Let it all out.  Fill PPS with the not-so-sweet smell of success.  An atmosphere to savour.
#DCFC needs you!
#etc
 
 
 
 
*Or is that just me? 🤷‍♂️

They certainly will have some motivation to avoid being drawn into relegation. Not a dead rubber for the Shrews.

Yeah but...
 

Here's hoping Shrewsbury can pull off a bit of an upset in midweek 🤞

Cheers B4… We all miss you COYR.

I swooned

Oh my goodness 🥲 That’s amazing. Can’t thank you all enough ❤️ my friend and I have just been to Pride Park to raise a can for Dan by his memorial brick and came to back to this amazing news. You guys are awesome ⚽️🐏⚽️🎉🎉🎉

I  am pissed.. please win 🙏

I  am pissed.. please win 🙏

Royal Family
Blakes 7

Royal Family
Blakes 7

My parents told me the same. Its not unusual.

B4. Can you please have a word with the big man for the Rams to storm the end of the season.

Rows? I haven't noticed any and, in contrast, have only seen them supporting each other.
I see the defence as a (preferably) 5 person unit that builds understanding over time.
To bring in Vickers at this crucial stage of the season, with his lack of game time, would be a big mistake, imo.

And so matchday is upon us and despite believing we'll win this game, nagging doubts persist. Hard to know which Wycombe we'll face; will they be at their dogged and determined best, or will they be suffering from a Wembley hangover? Equally, the Rams haven't seemed to prosper coming off a break in recent seasons, or perhaps I'm just imagining that. I do think if we are switched on tonight and with the stakes so high you'd hope we would be, then we ought to have too much for them. 
So how do we see the game playing out? I don't see Wycombe flying out of the gates and off the back of a quick turnaround, there might be some heavy legs out there tonight. Their fans will certainly be up for it and I'd expect a decent showing from them even after their Wembley heartbreak and despite it being a mid-week game. They still see Derby as the devil incarnate and have somehow painted their owner's actions as charitable - yes really! - and inevitably, the recent history will almost certainly ensure a feisty game.
No doubt we'll hear more as the day progresses, but it seems likely Ward will be given more time having picked up a knock, but as @sage has pointed out, we might have Max and Barks back in the fold tonight which would give us plenty of options off the bench. With Joe's niggle likely to keep him out, I'd expect us to line up with CBT and Nate on the flanks and I'd hope that the latter will show up well for a return to his favoured slot. For me, the back 4 pick themselves at the moment, with Nyambe out for the season and Bradley still serving a ban and I'd be worried were we not to start Ebou and Korey in CM. Upfront I'd like to see Washington playing off Collo, given our fairly limited options right now. I think he has a slight pace edge over Waggy, who to my eye, still looks a way off the form we saw from him early season.
I did warn folk about the likely weather for Pompey in the last match thread, but fortunately tonight looks like being a positively balmy 12C and dry, so for the travelling Rams faithful, a rather more pleasant night, results and performance notwithstanding.
For my finger in the air guess, I'm going with a 2-0 win for the Rams, with Nate and Collo on the scoresheet.
Safe journey to all.
COYR

Top half champ teams don’t usually have grade A players in all positions. Good solid pro’s who know their jobs can do an excellent job supporting a small core of top talent.

If this is the level we are setting for exciting announcements, they I am delighted to inform you all that I will be starting work today in approximately 33 minutes from now (08.27am).
Thank you.

I have been away on holiday and caught up with MOTD2 on my return yesterday. Surely we can all put football rivalry aside to pray for the swift recovery of Yates who was dealt an horrific blow from Maddison which might well have killed lesser men. Let’s hope he survives for his family’s sake.